Power mower



"April 6, 1937. A. WOOE'IFORD 2,076,056

POWER MOWER Filed Nov. 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. Ami/P77. Mo romn A TTORNEY.

April 6, 1937. A. F. WQODFIOIQD POWER MOWER ssheets-shetz Filed Na 2a. 1954 INVENTOR. ALBERT FWoooFoRp BY {Mal W' ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1937.' A. F. wgjooFoRo POWER MOWE R Filed Nov. 28. 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

T. W0 onroap ALBERT zig a ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER MOWER. Albert F. Woodford, St. Petersburg, Fla. Application November 28, 1934, Serial No, 755,087

2 Claims. (Cl. 5625) My invention relates to improvements in power mowers and the principal object of my invention is to provide a mower with an actuated cutting member in combination with a mower or implement which may be power driven either forward or backward.

A further object of my invention is to provide a a mower wherein it is unnecessary to shut off the power to stop the rotating of the cutting member or the propulsion of the mower.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means by which the mower,- under power, may be driven either forward or backward without the rotating of the cutting member.

This mower is principally designed for lawns and where it is desired to cut close to trees, shrubbery, et cetera, but it may also be used for heavier work, and aside fromthe objects set forth it will be found from the drawings and description that there are other novel advantages to my invention.

- These various objects and advantages are attained by mechanism illustrated in the accom-- panying drawings, wherein, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention as it appears when moving forward and the cutter is rotating.

- Figure 2 is a side elevation of my mower when it is in the same relative-position as in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross section on the line XX,

Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the cutter showing four arms upon whichthe blades are mounted, but for heavier work two blades would prove satisfactory.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings. wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. I In these drawings A represents the main frame, which as shown is of suitable angle iron, mounted in the front upon wheels 2 through members 3 and l and a stub axle or bolt 0, member I having an elongated slot b through which extends a bolt 1 thus allowing for the raising or lowering of said wheels 2, thereby adjusting the cutting member for high or close cutting and when the desired adiustment has been made said members are held rigidly in place by the tightening of a nut 11. upon said bolt. In the rear I support my frame A through member 6 upon a roller I which acts as a traction wheel as well as performing the function of a roller through means which will hereafter be described.

5 Upon the frame A is mounted by bolts or other suitable means an internal combustion engine E having a driving medium i0, which is provided with the usual balance wheel or fly wheel I I, connected to a longitudinal drive shaft i2 by a flex ible coupling i3, thus retarding vibration, the said 5 drive shaft extending to the clutch member H whichis slidable and rotatable upon said shaft through the use of a key m and a yoke 25, con- ,necting rod 26; control lever 21 suitably mounted -upon the handle member w, and spring 28 is 10 provided to engage or disengage the said clutch member, extending from said clutch and forming a part thereof-is a shaft I! having secured at its opposite end by a key and set screw a gear I. thus transmitting power, when the clutch is engaged, 15 to the cutting member 20 through the means of a gear l8 and shaft 22 upon which said gear II is mounted by a key and set screw and meshed with gear it. To prevent vibration of shaft "'1 provide thrustbearings t which are engaged. in a bearing housing h which is a part of the gear housing 2|.

Shaft 22, which is perpendicular 'to said shaft l5, at its points of support rests upon ball bearings which are located at the top and bottom of 25 gear housing 2| and turns free as the shaft revolves thereby eliminating friction and assuring a free rotary movement of the cutting member which is-located at the lower end of said shaft and secured thereto by a bolt screwed into the 0 tapered end of said shaft which projects through an opening-23 in said cutting member. As previously stated the cutting member for generallawn work will consist of four arms 1: but forheavy work two arms will prove satisfactory, upon each 35 of these arms is riveted the cutting blades c it will be seen by referring to Figure 4 of the drawings that the bevel or cutting part of the blade is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the arm thus giving a cutting stroke ,similar to that of 40 the common sickle. I'o transmit power from the' longitudinal drive shaft 12 to the traction roller 1-1 provide a collar 30 having disk members or shoulder ends 7' and k at its ends said collar being sleeved over the drive shaft 12 and made 5 slidable thereon and rotatable therewith through the use of a key s. On the edge of' said disk members or shoulders 7' and k is riveted a friction material to provide proper traction when, through the use of a yoke 32, connecting rod 33, and a control lever 34, suitably mounted upon the handle to one of said disk members or shoulof the operator to go forward or backward, or to stop the mower the operator disengages both members :i and is from the disk 35 contact with the disk member or shoulder k when in position as shown in Figure 1 providing a forward movement and contact with 7' providing a backward movement.

It is therefore through the establishing of contact with one or the other of said disk members a or k: with disk 35 and through shaft 40, which is at right angle to said longitudinal driving shaft and upon which said disk is secured by a key and set screw, a sprocket wheel 4| mounted on and rotatable with shaftthrough means of a key and set screw sprocket chain 42 and a sprocket wheel 43 which is mounted upon the axle G of roller 1 and held thereto by a key and 1. In a power mower, a frame supportedv on wheels and a handle therefor, a traction member on said frame at the rear thereof, in combination with a longitudinal driving shaft mounted on said frame, power means for said shaft, friction members slidable on saidshaft and rotatable therewith, a yoke engaging said friction members, a horizontal rotatable shaft at right angles to said driving shaft having a friction disk mounted upon one end thereof, control rods extending from said friction members to the handle for engaging and disengaging said members with said friction disk, a sprocket wheel mounted on the outer end ofsaid horizontal shaft and rotatable therewith, a chain extending from said sprocket wheel to a second'sprocket wheel mounted on gone end-of the traction member at the rear of said frame, in further combination with an independent means for controlling the transmission of powerthrough said longitudinal driving shaft, a clutch mounted The handle w is mounted" upon said shaft and controlled by a yoke engag ing said clutch, control rods attached to said yoke extending therefrom to said frame handle, a vertical shaft positioned adjacent the front end of said frame, bevel gears at-the forward end of the longitudinal driving shaft and on the upper end of said vertical shaft for providing a driving contact therebetween, a cutting member having a series of cutting blades mounted on the lower end of said vertical shaft, said cutting member to be rotated with said vertical shaft parallel to and adjacent to the ground.

2. In a power mower, the combination of a frame supported on wheels and a handle therefor, a traction member on said frame at the rear thereof, a power driven longitudinal shaft mounted upon said frame and having slidable thereon and rotatable therewith a collar with a disk members at opposite ends thereof, ,a yoke member engaging said collar, a longitudinal shaft at right angles to said driving shaft and having a friction disk mounted thereon, control rods extending from said yoke along the side of the-frame to said handle for engaging and disengaging said disk'members with said friction disk, a sprocket wheel mounted on the outer end of said horizontal shaft andla sprocket chain extending from said sprocket wheel to a second sprocket wheel mounted at the rear of said frame in combination with an independent means for controlling the transmission of power through said longitudinal driving shaft, a clutch mounted on said shaft and controlled by a yoke engaging said clutch, control rods attached to said yoke and extending therefrom along. the side of said frame to said handle, a vertical shaft positioned adjacent the front end of said frame, bevel gears on the forward end of the longitudinal driving shaft and on the upper end of. said vertical shaft providing a.driving engagement therebetween a cutting member on the lower end of said vertical ALBERT F. WOODFORD. 

